Maine's catch of lobster declines again as high costs and climate change
impact industry
[March 07, 2026] By
PATRICK WHITTLE
PORTLAND, Maine (AP) — Maine's catch of lobsters declined for the fourth
straight year, state fishing regulators said Friday, as the industry
continued to grapple with soaring business costs, inflation and a
changing ocean.
The haul of lobsters, Maine's best known export and a key piece of the
state's identity and culture, has declined every year since 2021, and
some scientists have cited as a reason warming oceans that spur
migration to Canadian waters.
The sector brought in 78.8 million pounds (35.7 million kilograms) of
lobsters in 2025, down from more than 110 million pounds (49.9 million
kilograms) in 2021, regulators said. It was the lowest total since 2008.
Inflation hit the industry hard last year, and there were more than
21,000 fewer fishing trips than in 2024, according to Carl Wilson,
commissioner of the Maine Department of Marine Resources. Market
uncertainty due to tariffs and a late start to the busy portion of the
fishing season also played roles, he said.
“This combination of factors likely contributed to the decline from 2024
to 2025 in the lobster harvest of more than eight million pounds and a
decrease in the overall value of more than $75 million,” Wilson said in
a statement.
The vast majority of the country's lobsters are caught in waters off
Maine, though they are also trapped elsewhere in New England.
The overall catch, among the most lucrative in the U.S., is frequently
worth more than $500 million at the docks each year. Last year it was
more than $461 million.
The southern New England lobster fishery has been declared depleted by
regulators for years. That decline happened as waters warmed off Rhode
Island and southern Massachusetts, and scientists have warned that the
trend could be repeating off Maine. The crustaceans are sensitive to
changes in temperature, particularly when young but also throughout
their lives.
Last year the regulatory Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission
said lobster populations have shown “rapid decline in abundance in
recent years” in key areas and declared the species to be experiencing
overfishing. Environmental groups have called for tighter regulation of
the fishery.
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A lobster fishing boat motors out to sea under the dawn sky, Aug.
14, 2024, on Casco Bay in South Portland, Maine. (AP Photo/Robert F.
Bukaty, File)
 Some members of the industry have
pushed back on that assessment and say fishermen are already
restricted by regulations meant to conserve the lobsters and save
endangered whales.
Last year's catch was still relatively high compared with historic
numbers, up from typically 50 million to 70 million pounds (about 23
million to 32 million kilograms) in the 2000s and even less in the
decade before that.
The industry saw a boom in the 2010s, when hauls were over 100
million pounds (45 million kilograms) per year, topping out at more
than 132 million pounds (60 million kilograms) in 2016.
While prices remained high for both consumers and dealers, the high
cost of necessities such as fuel and gear made for “not a very
profitable season,” said John Drouin, who fishes out of Cutler.
But it was not all bad news, as lobsters were
trapped more consistently than the prior year, said Steve Train, who
is based out of Long Island.
“Hauling was more consistent, with less peaks and valleys, and the
price was higher in the summer months,” Train said. “But I think I
landed a little less.”
Lobsters remain readily available in restaurants and seafood
markets, though prices have been high. They typically sold for $3 to
$5 per pound at the dock in the 2010s and have been more than $6 per
pound in some recent years. Last year the price at the dock was
$5.85 per pound.
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